title: Increased serum triglycerides and reduced HDL cholesterol in male rats after intake of ammonium chloride for 3 weeks.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous data suggested that intake of sodas and other acid beverages might be associated with increased levels of serum triglycerides, lowered HDL cholesterol, and increased formation of mono unsaturated fatty acids, which are the preferred ones for triglyceride synthesis. The present work is an extension of these studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male rats were divided into 3 groups. All groups were given the same food, but various beverages: water (W), ammonium chloride, 200 mmol/L (AC), or sodium bicarbonate, 200 mmol/L (SB). Serum triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and the fatty acid distribution in total serum lipids were determined. Delta9-desaturase in serum lipids was estimated by the ratio of palmitoleic to palmitic acid, and by the oleic/stearic acid ratio. Correlation and ANOVA were used to study associations and group differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3 weeks, the AC group had higher triglyceride concentration and higher Delta9 desaturase indexes, but lower serum HDL and body weight as compared with the SB and W groups. In each of the groups, the oleic acid/stearic acid ratio correlated positively with serum triglycerides; in the pooled group the correlation coefficient was r = 0.963, p<0.01.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rats ingesting ammonium chloride as compared with sodium bicarbonate responded with increased desaturase indexes, increased serum triglycerides, and lowered HDL cholesterol concentration, thereby possibly contributing to explain the increased triglyceride concentration previously observed in subjects with a frequent intake of acid beverages, such as sodas containing carbonic acid, citric acid, and phosphoric acid.
authors.forename: Arne Torbjørn
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Høstmark
authors.forename: Marianne Sylvana Haug
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lunde
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haug
mesh_terms: D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001628:Beverages; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D009829:Oleic Acids; D013229:Stearic Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; C008757:palmitoleic acid; D019308:Palmitic Acid; C031183:stearic acid; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase